Cultural Resources Practice Lead

Overview of Catalyst and Job Description

Our team at Catalyst Environmental Solutions provides consulting services in the areas of water resources management, energy, and land development/management (www.ce.solutions). We serve as trusted strategic advisors to a diverse client base including private industry and the public sector and employ an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving that synthesizes the work of our scientific, economic, engineering, and regulatory experts to create practical solutions for complex environmental and natural resource management issues. Our understanding of complex scientific linkages and regulatory requirements associated with environmental permitting and compliance, contributes to our success in assisting clients through the planning, permitting, monitoring, closure, and restoration processes.

Catalyst was founded in 2015 by long-time colleagues to fill a growing gap in the environmental consulting market: attentive, technically rigorous, full-service solutions delivered by experienced professionals who remain directly involved in the work. That promise has supported sustained growth, repeat assignments, and increasingly complex responsibilities. Catalyst received the Zweig Group Top New Venture Award in 2019 and was named among the Zweig Best Firms to Work For annually from 2020 and 2026.

We are seeking a Cultural Resources Practice Leader to join our growing team. The position is to be based in California or Oregon with options to work either in-office or remotely, depending on location. This senior-level role and offers the opportunity to lead and grow our Cultural Resources practice including partnering closely with senior leadership to expand our geographic reach, support client relationships, and guide the successful delivery of cultural resource services on multidisciplinary environmental, renewable energy, and land management/development projects.

As a key member of our team, this role involves leading complex cultural resource projects, overseeing technical staff, and serving as a primary client- and agency-facing representative. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Archaeologist, Architectural Historian, or general Cultural Resources professional who is passionate about technical excellence, regulatory strategy, and building a high-performing team in a growth market.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and expand Catalyst’s Cultural Resources practice including strategic planning, client development, and collaboration with Catalyst leadership.
• Serve in key roles such as Principal Investigator, Project Manager, and Technical Lead on complex cultural resource projects.
• Manage a wide range of project tasks including research designs, work plans, survey strategies, reporting, data recovery, site/resource evaluations, and mitigation planning, etc.
• Prepare, oversee, and review technical documents for archaeological and/or architectural history studies; background, historic and ethnographic contexts; evaluations, regulatory analysis, etc.
• Oversee field operations, ensuring proper execution of archaeological and historic architecture surveys, excavations, monitoring, documentation, etc.
• Interface with clients, permitting agencies, Tribal representatives, and internal team members; clearly communicate regulatory requirements and project strategies in concise, accessible terms.
• Ensure compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, NEPA, state and local cultural resource regulations.
• Support proposal development, scope/fee preparation, and broader business development efforts to expand client relationships and project opportunities.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and client expectations; oversee invoicing and financial performance of assigned projects.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and train staff archaeologists, architectural historians, , and field crews.
• Collaborate across disciplines and offices to support the delivery of integrated environmental services.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regional cultural resource standards, best practices, and regulatory trends; participate in internal and external training programs.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (M.A. or Ph.D.) in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related field required
• 10-15 years of professional experience in Cultural Resources with demonstrated increase in leadership responsibility in a CRM environment.
• Exceptional technical expertise and demonstrated experience leading fieldwork and preparing technical studies and reports and contributing to regulatory review documents.
• Deep understanding of federal, state, and local cultural resource regulations, including Section 106; with long term experience in California, Pacific Northwest, and surrounding states highly desirable.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain methods, requirements, and recommendations to clients and non-technical audiences.
• Experience in business development and/or client management.
• Experience building or expanding a cultural resources team is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to lead teams, supervise staff, and foster a collaborative, high-quality work environment.
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and judgment capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced consulting environment.
• Ability to conduct strenuous physical fieldwork when needed, including walking long distances, digging, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to access remote project sites.
• Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA) preferred.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary - $120,000 to $175,000, commensurate with experience.
• Bonus – position will be eligible for annual, discretionary bonus program if continuously employed for 6-months prior to bonus allocation.
• Vacation – up to 160 hours based on years of experience
• Holidays - Catalyst offers 7 paid holidays each year, as well as 3 floating holidays
• Sick leave - 80 hours per year
• Benefits - include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Catalyst pays 70% of the cost of employee and dependent health insurance.
• 401K retirement plan - investments in the 401K plan are matched 1:1 up to the first 3% contributed and 0.5:1 up to 5%.

Pay: $120,000.00 - $170,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Portland, OR 97203

Salary : $120,000 - $170,000